Circuit-controlling mechanism



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

.ACHILLES DE KHOTINSKY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO CENTRAL SCIENTIFIC COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

CIRCUIT-CONTROLLING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented A11 24, 1920.

Application filed April 29, 1916. Serial No. 94,512.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ILICI'IILLES DE Kno'rm- 5111*, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Circuit- Controlling Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a magnetically operated circuit-controlling mechanism, particularly adapted for use with thermostatically-controlled. electric heating appliances, although not necessarily limited to such use.

The invention is an improvement upon my controller mechanism of U. S. Patent No. 1,18%, 130, granted to my assignee on May 23, 1916.

The use of batteries to supply current to operate circuit-controlling mechanisms of this character is exceedingly unsatisfactory owing to the rapid deterioration of the batteries and the consequent liability of the mechanism to fail at unexpected and critical periods.

It is an object, therefore, of my invention to provide a magnetically-operated circuitcontrolling mechanism adapted to be operated. by current from the main circuit controlled thereby without, however, subjecting the thermostat to danger of sparking which would result in quickly rendering it inoperative.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a magnetically-operated circuit-controlling mechanism constructed to insure certain and effective operation without constant supervision by the operator.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent as it is better understood by reference to the following specificz'ttion when read in connection with the accompanying drawing, illustrating the preferred embodiment thereof, in which I Figure 1 is a front elevation partially in section of a circuit controlling mechanism according to my invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the invention;

3 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the electrical circuits whereby the circuit controlling mechanism is connected to a plurality of heating elements and to the thermostat for controlling the operation thereof.

Referring to the drawing, 1 indicates a suitable insulating base upon which is mounted two pairs of clips 2, 3, the clips 2 being connected by a conducting member 1. Mounted in the clips 2, 3 are a pair of insulating members 5, each bearing a plurality of turns of high resistance wire 6, the ends of the wires being electrically connected to the clips 2, 3. The clips 3 are connected by conducting members 7 to the binding posts 8 and 9. Mounted upon the base 1 between the members is a solenoid comprising a cylindrical member 10, end members 11 and 12 and a plurality of turns of conducting material 13 disposed about the cylindrical member and an iron casing 12'. A core 14 of magnetic material is loosely disposed within the cylindrical, member 10 and is adapted to be reciprocated in the usual manner when the solenoid is energized. Pivotally secured at 15 to the end of the core 14 is a member 16 provided with two contacts 17 and 18 adapted to engage contacts 19 and 20 adjustably disposed in suitable supports 21 mounted on the base 1. Binding posts 22, 23 and 24 are mounted on the base 1 and are connected respectively by conductors 22, 23, and 2 1 to the contacts 19 and 21 and to the end 25 of the conduct ing material 13 forming the solenoid. The opposite end 26 of the conducting material 13 is connected by a conductor 27 to a con tact member 28 adjustably mounted to on gage the high resistance wire (3 on one of the members 5.

In Fig. 3 of the drawing I have illustrated the electrical circuits for connecting the circuit controlling mechanism to a plurality of electric heating elements 29, a thermostat being provided to control the operation of the circuit-controlling mechanism. The heating elements 29 and thermostat 30 may be of any suitable and wellknown form and accordingly have not been described in detail. 31 and 32 illustrate conductors leading from a source of current preferably an ordinary lighting circuit. The resistance wires 6 are connected in series by the conducting member 1 and are bridged across the main circuit, the conductors 31 and 32 of which are connected, respectively, to the binding posts 8 and 9. The resistance of the wires 6 is sufliciently high to permit the voltage of the circuit to force only a relatively small volume of current through the same. The conducting material 13 of the solenoid is adjustably con nected by the conductor 27 and the movable contact element 28 to one of the wires 6, its opposite end being connected by the conductor 2a to the binding post 241, whence the conductor 33 leads to one terminal of the thermostat 80. The remaining terminal of the thermostat 30 is connected by a conductor 3 1 to the binding post 8. This arrangement allows a small portion of the volume of current flowing through the wires 6 to shunt through the solenoid, the voltage of the current thus passing through the solenoid being relatively low so that danger of sparking in the thermostat 30 is effectually prevented.

A light spring 35, which does not affect the operation of the core 14, electrically connects the conducting member 7 with the contact member 16 which normally engages the contacts 19 and 20. The contacts 19 and 20, as previously stated, are connected to the binding posts 22 and 23 which are connected by suitable conductors 35 and 37 to one of the terminals of each of the heating elements 29. The remaining terminals of the heating elements 29 are connected by a conductor 37 to the binding post 9.

Normally current flows from the conductor 31 through the binding post 9 and the conductor 37 to the heating elements 29, thence through the conductors 36 and 37 to the contacts 19 and 20 and through the spring 85 to the conductor hen the material heated by the heating elements 29 has reached a predetermined temperature a circuit is closed by the thermostat 30, whereby current from the conductor 31 passes through the binding post 9, conducting member 7, resistance wire 6, conductor 27, through the solenoid and thence through conductors 24C and 33, thermostat 30 and conductor 34 to the conductor 39.. The solenoid is thereby energized to draw the core 1 1 upwardly and withdraw the contacts 17 and 18 from the contacts 19 and 20, thereby breaking the circuit to the heating elements 29. The circuit will be broken until the temperature of the material being heated has again dropped below the predetermined point when the circuit through the thermostat 30 will be broken and the contacts 17 and 18 will again engage the contacts 19 and 20.

It will be readily appreciated from the foregoing that 1 have perfected a circuitcontrolling mechanism which provides nu merous advantages over mechanism of a similar character heretofore known in the art and more particularly with respect to the use of current from the main circuit, controlled by the mechanism, for actuating the solenoid.

I am aware that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing any of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

1 claim:

1. In a circuit-controlling 1nechanism,the combination of a pair of fixed contacts spaced apart, a contact member adapted to engage said contacts adjacent its ends and pivotally supported between its ends, magnetic means for actuating said contact member, and means for supplying said magnetic means with a relatively small quantity of current from the supply to the circuit controlled by said mechanism but at a greatly reduced voltage.

2. In a circuit-controlling mechanism,the combination of a pair of fixed contacts spaced apart, a contact member adapted to engage said contacts adj acent its ends, a solenoid, a movable core within said solenoid pivotally connected at one end to said contact member between its ends, and means for supplying said solenoid with a relatively small quantity of current from the supply to the circuit controlled by said mechanism but at a greatly reduced voltage.

3. In a circuit-controlling mechanism, the combination of a solenoid, a movable core within said solenoid, a resistance bridged across a source of current, said solenoid being connected in multiple with a portion of said resistance to supply the solenoid with a relatively small quantity of current from the supply to the circuit controlled by said mechanism but at a greatly reduced voltage, a pair of fixed contacts spaced apart, and a contact member pivotally engaged between its ends with one end of the solenoid and arranged to engage the fixed contacts adjacent its ends.

a. In a circuit-controlling mechanism, the combination of a fixed contact, a contact member adapted to cooperate therewith, a solenoid, a movable core within said solenoid connected to said contact member, and means for energizing said solenoid including a plurality of resistance elements connected in series and bridged across a source of current, and a movable contact on one of said elements connected to said solenoid, whereby said solenoid is connected in multiple with a portion of the resistance elements and is supplied with a relatively small quantity of current at a greatly reduced voltage.

5. In a circuit-controlling mechanism, the combination of a plurality of fixed contacts,

said solenoid is connected in multiple With 10 a portion of the resistance element and is supplied with a relatively small quantity of current at a greatly reduced voltage.

ACHILLES DE KHOTINSKY.

Witnesses:

VM. F. BELT, M. A. KIDDIE. 

